Whitman Memorial Library facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Whitman Memorial Library
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Whitman Library in 2013
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1 mi. SW of jct. of ME 26 and ME 232, Bryant Pond, Maine |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1910 |
| Architect | Bacon, Alton H. |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 94001549 |
| Added to NRHP | January 12, 1995 |
The Whitman Memorial Library is the main public library for the town of Woodstock, Maine. It is located at 28 South Main Street in the village of Bryant Pond. The library is housed in a special building. It was built in 1910 when the library first opened. The building has a unique style called Colonial Revival. Because of its historical importance, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1995.
Contents
Discovering the Whitman Library Building
The Whitman Memorial Library building has a T-shape. It is made of wood and sits far back from the street. The library is on a grassy lot. A stone wall, built at the same time as the library, surrounds the property. There is also a memorial for soldiers from World War I.
Architecture and Design
The building stands on a strong brick foundation. A concrete basement was added later inside this foundation. The roof is high and sloped, known as a hip roof. The front of the building faces north. It has three sections, with the main entrance in the middle. Large windows are on each side of the door.
The entrance has a small porch with a gable roof. This porch is supported by thin columns. Around the main door, there are small diamond-shaped windows. These are called sidelights and a transom. The door itself is made of panels.
Inside the Library
The inside of the library still looks much like it did in 1910. All of its original wood features and finishes are still there. The layout is typical for libraries built in the early 1900s. There is a central desk for the librarian. A reading room is on one side. The book shelves, or "stacks," are on the other side. A full basement was added to the building in 1957.
How the Library Started
The Whitman Memorial Library was created thanks to a gift. This gift came from Eleanor Bryant Whitman and Alanson M. Whitman. They were long-time residents of the area. Both were descendants of the first settlers in the region. Their gift said that the town had to provide land for the library. But the gift also provided money to build the library and fill its shelves with books.
 | William Lucy |
 | Charles Hayes |
 | Cleveland Robinson |
